sooo I just tried my old gear with the 16 and honestly... it's a bit of a mess. the new camera layout basically means the Moment T-Series Lens Mount for the 15 wont fit right, so you'll definitely need the new iPhone+16+Pro+Case&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Moment iPhone 16 Pro Case to avoid vignetting.

I tried balancing my DJI Osmo Mobile 6 with the Moment T-Series 1.33x Anamorphic Lens and it was struggling hard... like, the motors were getting warm. If you're gonna use heavy glass, you basically HAVE to get the Insta360 Flow Pro and maybe some counterweights cuz the 16 Pro is already heavy enough. tbh I'm kinda disappointed that the "universal" mounts keep changing every year, but that's Apple for ya! good luck 👍

Seconding the recommendation above. Ngl, the weight issue is super real and people always underestimate it. I've been using a similar setup for my travel vlogs, and honestly, you gotta be cautious with these new larger phones. If you're worried about motor strain and fumbling with gear, I'd probably skip the smaller gimbals entirely.

I've been really satisfied with the Hohem iSteady M6 Kit lately. It's a bit beefier than the Flow, but it has a much higher payload capacity (up to 400g!), so it handles the iPhone+16+plus+a+heavy+lens&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iPhone 16 plus a heavy lens without that annoying jitter. Plus, the magnetic AI tracker/fill light is a lifesaver when you're solo.

For the glass, if you're looking for value and want to avoid the high price of Moment, I'd look at:
* Reelex 110mm Telephoto Lens T-Series - Great for that compression you mentioned, and usually a bit cheaper.
* iPhone+16+Pro+Phone+Cage&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">SmallRig iPhone 16 Pro Phone Cage - Seriously, dont just use a clip. A cage is way more stable and makes switching lenses much faster.
* Sandmarc Drama Polarizer Filter - Essential for those landscape shots to pop the clouds and cut glare.

I think you can get the gimbal and a couple of solid pieces for around $450 total if you're smart about it. Just remember to re-balance the gimbal EVERY time you swap a lens or you'll burn out the motors eventually... been there, done that, it sucks lol. Good luck with the new rig!! 👍

Basically, everyone is hitting the nail on the head regarding payload - its the absolute biggest factor once you start adding glass to these heavier Pro models. Having rigged these up since the early days, Ive found that the biggest trap is getting stuck in a proprietary ecosystem that changes every year. Honestly, if you want a setup that actually lasts, just get any universal cage from a brand like Beastgrip or SmallRig. They use industry-standard mounting points - like 1/4-20 threads and cold shoes - which allow for way better weight distribution. You can actually offset a heavy lens by mounting your gimbal plate further to one side, which is a TOTAL lifesaver for your motors. If you go with a solid metal rig instead of a thin case, you wont be fumbling with specific adapters every time a new phone drops. From a long-term perspective, investing in a robust, brand-agnostic system is the only way to keep your kit stable and professional without constantly rebuying everything.

Hmm, I've had a different experience over the years. Honestly, even though everyone is worried about the motors, I've found that just getting a solid weighted counterweight set from any reputable brand is a total lifesaver for your gimbal's health. I've been rigging up heavy setups for ages and if you balance it manually first, the strain basically disappears!! Personally, I'd actually suggest a different approach—don't stress the specific gimbal model too much and just look at the professional cinema brands that focus on payload capacity. You'll be way happier in the long run if you prioritize safety and motor longevity over fancy tracking features tbh.

Commenting to find later

Similar situation here - I went through this last year when I tried to rig up a heavy lens kit on a small gimbal. Honestly, it was a total nightmare because the motors kept jittering. In my experience, even the Insta360 Flow Pro struggles once you add the weight of a Moment T-Series 58mm Telephoto Lens and a mounting plate. I actually switched to the Hohem iSteady M6 Kit because it handles a way bigger payload (up to 400g!), which is perfect for the iPhone+16+Pro+weight&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iPhone 16 Pro weight. Plus, the magnetic AI tracker is actually useful for travel vlogs!